Loom stopping mechanism



y. 969 R. G. PAPELIAN ETIAL' $442,300

LOOM STOPPING MECHAN I SM Sheet of4 Filed Sept. 11, 1967 INVENTOR.

ROGER. G.PAPEL|AN. ANDRE JFoNTmNE.

A TTORNE Y y 1969 R. G. PAPELlAN ET AL 3,442,300

LOOM STOPPING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1967 Sheet 2 of 4 BYflNDRE'BZFbNTRlNE.

QM QM A TTORNE Y y 1969 R. G. PAPELIAN ET AL 3,442,300

LOOM STOPPING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1967 Sheet of 4 INVENTOR.

Roar-1&6. PAPELIANZ y ANDRE J. FONTAINE.

A TTORNE Y May 6, 1969 R. G. PAPELIAN ET AL LOOM STOPPING MECHANISMFiled Sept. 11, 1967 Sheet 4 of 4 -z CQ A- .J

INVENTOR, Roszra e. PAPELIAN.

BY HNDREJTFONTAINE.

' A TTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 139-341 5 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE Protection devices for fly-shuttle loom operableindividually from opposing shuttle boxes for initiating loomstoppageprior to beat-up if the shuttle is not present or 18 not properlypositioned within its intended box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to weaving looms ofthe flyshuttle type and, more particularly, to an improved mechanicalcontrol mechanism for the automatic cessation of such looms.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved automaticmeans for stopping a loom in the event of improper shuttle boxing.

A further object is that of providing an improved means for stopping aloom which requires considerable less inertia to perform its intendedfunction than the conventional means well known in the weaving art.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a loom stoppingmechanism which will perform its intended function with fewercooperating elements, thereby reducing the weight of the mechanism whichin known devices is a contributing factor in the breakage of variousloom components.

A still further object is that of providing such a mechanism whereby thecomponents in each shuttle box which initiate stoppage of a loom areadapted to function independently of smilar components in the opposedshuttle box.

Another object is that of devising such a mechanism which by performingits function more efliciently with fewer cooperating components,provides a relatively inexpensive and economically desirable loomstopping mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following more detailed disclosure.

The greater number of present day looms now being furnished to theweaving industry utilize a unitary type clutch-brake motor as theirsource of power and the loom stopping mechanism according to the instantinvention is adapted to cooperate with motors of this type during theperformance of its intended function.

It is common practice in the above-mentioned looms to provide a meansfor stopping a loom automatically in the event of improper shuttleboxing, such as a shuttle not entering a shuttle box at the precisemoment it is timed to be received therein. This manner of abruptlystopping a loom is commonly referred to as a bang-off, and is necessaryto prevent extensive damage to the shuttle as well as the many warpyarns that extend transversely of the lay.

The conventional and well-known means utilized to eifect a loom bang-offincludes a lay supported protector rod which is oscillatable in a knownmanner and includes frog engageable dagger fingers adjacent each endthereof. With this arrangement, linkage between the shuttle box and theprotector rod will lift the dagger fingers a suflicient distance toclear the frogs when the shuttle is iCC properly received and positionedwithin the shuttle box. In the event a shuttle is late, or in otherwords, improperly received or positioned within a shuttle box, theaforementioned linkage will fail to lift the dagger fingers and thelatter will be caused to engage the frogs creating a so-called bang-offwhich brings the loom to an abrupt stop.

This manner of loom stopping has presented conditions which areconsidered undesirable in modern day looms, for as is well known tothose conversant with the art, modern looms have a substantially heavierlay construction and are adapted to operate at greater speeds than theolder models of looms.

This heavier lay construction and the higher speeds at which presentlooms are caused to operate are at time of bang-off contributing factorsin the cause of breakage of various loom components such as loom framesand those cooperating elements utilized to eifect the actual stopping ofthe loom.

The improved loom stopping mechanism according to the instant inventionprovides an improved means for automatically stopping a loom and haseliminated the well-known conventional bang-ofi components which includethe protector rod, dagger fingers and frogs.

The mechanism of the invention is adapted to function independently ofthe shipper motion elements which provide the means for manuallystarting and stopping a loom.

The invention includes pivotable shuttle sensing elements which form apart of each shuttle box and the sensing element of one box is adaptedto function independently of the similar element in the opposite box.

These sensing elements are in the form of pivotable members which extendupwardly into the shuttle box and into the pathway of the shuttle whenit is received therein. When in the shuttle pathway position, theseelements are maintained in that position by means of the lower endsmaking contact with magnet members suitably positioned beneath the lowersurface of each shuttle box. As a shuttle enters a box its lower surfacecontacts the sensing member and pivots it to a non-interfering position.The sensing element is held in the non-interfering position by makingcontact with another magnet member which is suitably assembled flushwith the lower surface of the shuttle box. A re-set rod disposedimmediately beneath the lay and extending longitudinally therewith iseffective in moving each sensing member from a non-interfering positionback to the shuttle pathway position just prior to the shuttle enteringeither of the two shuttle boxes. As a shuttle is caused to leave ashuttle box, the picker stick at the end of its power stroke contactsone end of the reset rod and moves it a sufiicient distance to cause are-set finger, which is fixedly attached to the re-set rod, to strikethe lower portion of the sensing element in the opposite shuttle boxmoving the same to the shuttle pathway position in readiness for theincoming shuttle.

If a sensing element fails to be actuated, or in other words, fails tobe pivoted to the non-interfering position, an indicator latch, which ismechanically linked to said element and pivotable therewith, contacts avertically disposed pivotable lever on the forward movement of the layand pivots the upper portion of said lever in a like direction. Thispivotable lever is, through the combination of linkage elements,interconnected with the operating lever of the clutch-brake motorheretofore mentioned and is effective in applying the brake of saidmotor thereby stopping the loom. A co-pending patent application No.476,979 filed Aug. 3, 1965, shows and describes a motor disconnect latchwith which the linkages and sensing elements according to the instantinvention are adapted to cooperate to effect the cessation of a m.

The invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail byreference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying figures of drawing, where- FIG. 1 is a view in frontelevation of a portion of the right-hand side of a loom showing one ofthe shuttle sensing elements according to the invention as appliedthereto and the means by which said element is reset to the shuttlepathway position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of .a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1showing the shuttle sensing element and the cooperating componentspivotable therewith for initiating stoppage of a loom;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation and partially in section of themechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a loom lay beam as seenlooking at the underside thereof and showing the means for supportingand adjusting the sensing element re-set rod;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control linkage at the right-handside of a loom for actuating the loom motors disconnect latch and alsothe lever arrangement which permits loom stoppage indications from thelefthand shuttle box to be transmitted independently of righthandcontrol linkages; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the control linkage at the left-handside of the loom.

Referring now to the figures of drawing, a portion of a looms right-handshuttle box is depicted in FIG. 1 showing the shuttle sensing element inposition along with only the essential cooperating components displayed.

As the general construction and operation of this type of loom are wellknown and familiar to those conversant with the weaving art, and as theinvention is entirely concerned with a novel rotection mechanism forstopping a loom, it is only considered necessary here to illustrate anddescribe those parts of a loom directly concerned with a preferred formof the present invention.

A loom includes among other conventional parts a pair of sword members10 (a portion of one only shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) which are disposedin spaced relation and caused to swing to and fro during the performanceof their intended function. A lay beam 11 which traverses the width ofthe loom is supported by the sword members immediately below the forwardupper surfaces of the latter. Lay ends 12 (one only shown in FIGS. 1, 2,and 3) are fixedly attached to the upper end portions of the lay andform a part of the shuttle boxes disposed at each end of the lay beam11.

Other conventional components of the shuttle boxes not shown includesuch items as the box plates and binders.

Picker sticks 13 having pickers 14 attached to the upper ends thereof(one only shown in FIG. 1) function in a conventional manner to cause ashuttle 15 to be picked back and forth across the lay beam.

The shuttle sensing element according to the invention is depictedgenerally in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 by numeral 16. This element is fabricatedfrom flat, metallic stock and being generally arcuated it is so disposedas to extend upwardly from an assembly point beneath the lay beam,through an appropriate slot in the latter, and into the confines of theshuttle box.

The sensing element 16 is fixedly supported for pivoting movementadjacent the forward end of a generally horizontally disposed rod member17 by means of screws 18 and 19 (FIG. 2) which are adapted to passthrough spaced apertures in said element, through aligned holes in therod member, and then assemble in aligned tapped holes provided in ananchor plate 20.

As seen looking from the front of a loom, rod member 17 extends in arearward direction and passes through a hole 21 provided in the sword 10(FIG. 3). Rod member 17 is journaled for oscillating movement in hole 21by means of bushings 22 and 23 which assemble in a counter bore providedat each end of said hole.

The sensing element 16 is pivotable in a manner to be more fullydescribed hereinafter between the limits of the solid and phantom linepositions shown in FIG. 1. This element is maintained in one or theother of the above positions by means of magnet members disposed so asto make contact with said member on surfaces adjacent its ends.

When the sensing element is in the non-interfering or solid lineposition shown in FIG. 1, it is maintained in this position by a magnetmember 24 which assembles in the shuttle box flush with the lowersurface thereof.

When the sensing element is in the phantom line or shuttle pathwayposition, that surface adjacent the lowermost end of said element is incontact with a magnet member 25. This magnet member is suitably attachedto a housing bracket 26 (FIG. 1) which assembles to a support bracket 27by means of cap screws 28 and 29. Support bracket 27 depends from aninner rib surface 30 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of the lay and attaches to thelatter by means of cap screws 31 and 32.

A re-set rod 33 is supported immediately beneath the lay beam 11 andextends longitudinally therewith. This re-set rod is of a length whichpermits the ends thereof to be contacted by the picker sticks at the endof their power strokes and to cause said rod to move a short distance ina. lineal direction. The ends of the rod 33 are provided with contactplugs (one only shown in FIG. 1) which serve as a bumper element for thepicker sticks. This rod extends through an aperture 35 provided in thelower central portion of the sensing element (FIG. 3) and also passesthrough and is supported by so-called silent block bushings 36 (one onlyshown in FIG. 1). These bushings include an inner sleeve through whichthe rod 33 passes, and an Outer shell with a resilient rubber-likematerial therebetween which is bonded to both said sleeve and outershell. The bushings are housed in a support bracket 37 which is attachedto the sword 10 by means of a cap screw 38.

A pair of collar members 39 and 40 (FIG. 1) are fixedly assembled on therod 33 and are positioned on each side of the support bracket 37 inabutting relation with the inner sleeve of the bushing 36. The collarmembers 39 and 40 being fixedly positioned on rod 33 and in abuttingrelation with the inner sleeve of the bushing 36 tend to maintain saidrod in a relatively fixed position; however, when the picker stickstrikes the end of the rod at the end of its power stroke, one of thebushings in contact with the inner sleeve of the bushing 36 will beforced against said sleeve. This movement will cause a deflection of theresilient rubber-like material and rod 33 will be moved a short distancein a lineal direction. When the forces of the picker sticks power strokehave dissipated, rod 33 will immediately return to its initial positionby the return of the rubber-like material to the shape in which it wasformed. The means by which the sensing elements is reset from thenon-interfering position to the shuttle pathway position will now bedescribed.

The sensing element 16 at the point of assembly with the rod member 17is provided with a generally L-shaped reset finger 41 which is pivotablewith said element and assembles between the latter and the anchor plate20. This reset finger extends in a generally downward direction with thefoot portion thereof extending in a plane substantially horizontal andtoward the center of the loom. In close proximity with the end of thefoot portion of the reset finger there is provided a reset collar 42having a depending lug portion 43. Collar 42 is fixedly positioned onrod 33 and the lug portion 43 is adapted to strike the foot portion ofthe reset finger 41 when said rod is caused to move in a linealdirection whereby the sensing element is pivoted to the shuttle pathwayposition.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 only show the sensing element as applied to theright-hand side of a loom; however, it should be understood that asimilar element functions on the left side in a like manner andcooperates with similar components. The reset rod 33 cooperates withboth sensing elements and FIG. 4 illustrates a center guide support forsaid rod which is depicted generally by numeral 44. This guide supportassembles to the underside of the lay in a generally centralizedposition relative to the length thereof by means of cap screws 45 (oneonly shown in FIG. 4).

The manner in which the pivotable sensing elements are effective ininitiating the stopping of a loom will now be described.

The horizontally disposed rod member 17 is provided on that end oppositethe end to which the sensing element 16 assemblies, with a sensing latch46. As shown in FIG. 1, this latch is pivotable with the sensing elementbetween the limits of the phantom and solid line positions shown.

A vertically disposed lever 47 {upper portion only shown in FIGS. 3 and5) is pivotably attached at its lower end by any suitable means to theloom frame. A linkage rod 48 is pivotably attached to lever 47 at apoint adjacent its upper end and extending rearwardly therefrom theopposite end of said rod extends through an opening in the lower portionof the top girt end 49 and is pivotably attached to one arm of a bellcrank lever 50. The second arm of this bell crank lever 50 is bifurcatedas at 51 and is disposed so as to permit the loom motor disconnect rod52 to pass between the bifurcated portion thereof. A driving collar 53is assembled in a fixed manner on rod 52 by means of a set screw 54 andis in abutting relation with the bifurcated portion of bell crank 50.Bell crank lever 50 is adapted to be moved in a clockwise direction asseen looking from the top thereof and such movement which will be morefully described hereinafter, will cause the bifurcated portion of saidlever to push against collar 53 and move rod 52 in the direction of theindicating arrow 54' shown in FIG. 5. Rod 52 extends to the motordisconnect latch shown and described in the aforementioned patentapplication, and such movement effects immediate cessation of the loom.

The linkage means by which the sensing element in the left-hand shuttlebox is able to transmit its indications for loom stoppage independentlyof the right-hand shuttle box will now be described.

The motor disconnect rod 52 extends through and beyond the limits of thebifurcated portion of the bell crank lever 50 and the end of said rod asshown in FIG. 5 is in abutting relation with the hooked end portion 55of a double armed lever generally indicated by numeral 56. Lever 56 ismounted for pivotable movement on a mounting bracket 57 by means of abolt 58 passing through an aperture (not shown) intermediate the ends ofsaid lever. Bracket 57 asemblies as shown in FIG. 5 to the top girt end49 by means of bolts 59 and 60. That end of the double armed lever 56opposite the hooked end 55 is identified by numeral 61 and has a drivingrod 62 pivotably attached thereto by means of a bolt 63 and nut 64.Driving rod 62 extends toward the left-hand side of the loom and asshown in FIG. 6 the opposite end thereof is pivotably attached to onearm of a bell crank lever 65. This bell crank lever is supported by abracket member 66 which is attached to the left-hand top girt end 67 bymeans of bolts 68 and 69.

A linkage rod 70 is pivotably assembled at one end to the second arm 71of the bell crank lever 65 and extending in a generally forwarddirection, the opposite end of said rod is assembled in a like manner toa vertically disposed lever 72 as at 73. This lever functions in thesame manner as lever 47 disposed at the right-hand side of the loom andwhen caused to be tilted forwardly it moves linkage rod 70 in thedirection of the indicating arrow 74 shown in FIG. 6. Such movement willcause the bell crank lever 65 to move the driving rod 62 in thedirection of the indicating arrows 75 (FIGS. 5 and 6) thereby moving thedouble armed lever 56 in a clockwise direction. It can now be easilyseen that movement of 6 the motor disconnect rod 52 (FIG. 5) can beactuated independently by either the double armed lever 56 which iscontrolled by the linkage arrangement from the lefthand side of the loomor the bell crank lever 50 that is controlled by the linkage on theright-hand side of the loom.

In operation, a shuttle is picked back and forth across the loom laybeam in a conventional and well-known manner. As the shuttle enterseither the rightor left-hand shuttle box, it contacts the shuttlesensing element 16 and pivots it to a non-interfering position or aposition whereby the upper portion thereof becomes flush with the lowersurface of the shuttle box where it is maintained in this position bythe magnet member 24. As the shuttle is picked from a shuttle box, thepicker stick at the end of its power stroke strikes the end of there-set rod moving the same a short distance in a lineal direction. Thismovement is sufiicient to cause the reset collar 42 on the re-set rod atthe opposite side of the loom to strike the reset finger 41 of thesensing element at this side of loom causing this sensing element to bepivoted to the shuttle pathway position and in readiness for theincoming shut-tie. The sensing element is held in this position untilshuttle arrival by the magnet member 25 disposed adjacent the lowerportion of said element. The procedure is reversed when the shuttle ispicked from this box moving the re-set rod in the opposite direction tore-set the other of the two sensing elements.

As heretofore described, the sensing latches 46 at each side of the loomare pivotable with their particular sensing element 1-6. As a shuttle isreceived into a shuttle box, the lay is moving toward front center andthe pivoting of the sensing element by the shuttle to thenon-interfering position pivots its sensing latch 46 to the phantom lineposition shown in FIG. 1 which is a sufiicient distance to clear theupper end portion of the vertically disposed lever 47 or 72 depending,of course, in which shuttle box the shuttle is being received. In theevent a shuttle should fail to enter either shuttle box at the preceisetime it is due, the sensing latch will contact the upper end portion ofone or the other of the levers 47 or 72 causing it to be tiltedforwardly. This motion will actuate the linkage extending rearwardlyfrom the particular lever affected and will cause the disconnect rod 52to be moved a sufficient distance to effect loom stoppage.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails de scribed, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a fly shuttle loom having a lay, aligned and opposite-ly disposedshuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay for receiving a shuttle as itis caused to travel thereacross, the improvement which comprises shuttlesensing elements mounted within each of said shuttle boxes, said sensingelements being pivotably mounted for movement from a shuttle pathwayposition to a non-interfering position when contacted by said shuttle,means for maintaining said sensing elements in each of said positionsand a further means for returning each of said sensing elementsindividually to the shuttle pathway position prior to said shuttle beingreceived into each of said shuttle boxes.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said fly shuttle loomincludes a picker stick cooperating with each of said shuttle boxes forpropelling said shuttle across said lay, said further means comprising are-set rod adapted to be moved in a lineal direction by said pickerstick to pivot the sensing element in the opposite shuttle box to saidshuttle pathway position.

3. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said means for maintainingsaid sensing element in each of said positions includes magnet membersdisposed so as to contact said elements adjacent their ends in each ofsaid positions.

4. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said loom includes firstlinkage means for stopping said loom and further linkage means movablewith said sensing elements and adapted to cooperate with said firstlinkage means for stopping said loom should said shuttle fail to besensed at the precise time it is due to arrive in each of said shuttleboxes.

5. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said further linkage meansincludes linkage elements for transmitting independent indications fromeach of said sensing elements to said first linkage means to effectcessation of said loom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,082 1/1927 Harrison 139-3452,000,820 5/1935 Chapman et a1 139-445 2,077,037 4/1937 Camps 139-341 103,047,030 7/1962 Metzler 139-341 HENRY S. JOUDON, Primary Examiner.

